Plant Affliction

Overview

Difficulty/Rarity Level: ★☆☆☆☆ (easy, common)

Companions touched by the Plant Affliction embody a deep connection to nature, thriving in harmony with the natural world. They channel the resilience and growth of plant life, blending healing, control, and creation into their abilities. This Affliction emphasizes a balance between nurturing allies and dominating enemies, creating a versatile and thematic experience.

Core Traits

Regardless of their level, all Plant Afflicted Companions share the following characteristics:

• Plant Shard Dependency: Companions with this Affliction must consume Plant Shards to stabilize their Affliction. The shards are stylized as leaves, flowers, or seeds and are naturally found in lush, verdant areas like forests, jungles, or thriving gardens. They can also absorb ambient shards by spending time in proximity to healthy plant life, such as trees, herbs, or underwater kelp forests.
• Living Features: Leaf-like markings, small sprouting flowers, or subtle vine patterns grow naturally on their body, visually representing their connection to plant energy. These features may glow faintly in certain conditions, such as sunlight or when abilities are used.
• Photosynthetic Resilience: Plant Afflicted Companions can partially sustain themselves through exposure to sunlight, reducing their reliance on traditional food sources.
• Affinity for Nature: Plant Afflicted Companions thrive in areas rich with plant life, gaining increased stamina, faster recovery, and enhanced abilities in such environments.
  • Seasonal Sensitivity: Their energy fluctuates with environmental conditions, with increased vitality in lush spring or summer-like settings and reduced effectiveness in barren or winter-like areas.
• Natural Empathy: These Companions can intuitively sense the health and vitality of their surroundings, feeling drawn to areas of life and growth while experiencing discomfort in barren or decayed environments.
• Regenerative Connection: Plant Afflicted Companions exhibit natural healing properties, passively mending minor injuries over time and sharing these benefits with nearby allies.
  • Fragile Ecosystem Bond: Excessive use of their abilities can disrupt the natural balance of their environment, requiring careful management to avoid unintended consequences.

Why pick a Plant Afflicted Companion?

Plant Afflicted Companions excel in supporting allies while maintaining a commanding presence on the battlefield through their ability to control and manipulate the environment. They offer a dynamic and thematic experience for players who value balance, creativity, and resilience in gameplay.

What Makes Plant Afflicted Companions Unique?

• Environmental Control: Plant Afflicted Companions reshape the battlefield, using plant life to create barriers, traps, and concealment while aiding allies with healing and stamina recovery.
• Nature’s Duality: They embody the dual nature of plants—capable of nurturing growth and life while also wielding the destructive force of thorns, toxins, and entangling vines.
• Symbiotic Bond: Their connection with their partner is enriched through shared vitality and protective auras, making them invaluable in both offense and defense.
• Narrative Depth: The Plant Affliction provides opportunities to explore themes of harmony, resilience, and the delicate balance of nature, offering a rich backdrop for character development and storytelling.

Is a Plant Afflicted Companion Right for You?

If you’re looking for a Companion that thrives in natural settings, offers creative and versatile abilities, and emphasizes the balance between support and control, a Plant Afflicted Companion is an excellent choice.

Bonding Process Suggestion

Out of character, you will need to purchase your character's Companions through the Bonding form, or receive them for free with an in-character post. In character, this is a possible method a character might use to bond with a Plant Afflicted Companions; it is not mandatory to follow this exact process though, so if you have another idea please feel free!

Initial Contact:

• Plant Afflicted Companions are often found in areas lush with plant life, ideally a place where vibrant and healthy plants grow. This could be a garden, a forest, or a meadow.
• Approach Companion with slow, graceful, and deliberate movements to exhibit no signs of a threat. A small, respectful nod or bow would be a good gesture to acknowledge its presence without alarming it.
• Bring along a selection of fresh herbs or flowers, preferably ones that you have a personal connection to. Gently place them down and step back, giving the Companion space to explore the offering.

Building Trust:

• Establish a routine of visiting the Companion at the same spot, fostering familiarity and a sense of safety through predictability.
• Spend time sitting or lying down silently in the area, allowing the Companion to become accustomed to your presence without any pressure of interaction. Reading a book or drawing could be a good activity during this time.
• As Plant-Afflicted Companions are deeply attuned to non-verbal cues, start communicating through expressive facial gestures or body language.

Deepening the Bond:

• Engage in a process of synchronized breathing with the Companion, helping to align your energies and foster a deeper understanding and connection.
• As the bond deepens, the Companion might start sharing vivid memories with you, a sign of immense trust and the developing of a symbiotic relationship.
• Once trust has been established, the Companion will guide you to a special place where unique, magical blossoms grow.
  • The Companion will help you choose a blossom that suits both partners.
  • These blossoms are often preserved and put into jewelry (particularly hair accessories or facial jewelry) worn by the bonded partner.

PLANT AFFLICTED COMPANION LEVELING

Capabilities & Difficulties: Most Companions with this Affliction will follow the progression path outlined below, however, as long as you stay within the bounds of your Companion's current level and purchased talents, we allow for some flexibility in interpretation. The capabilities and difficulties are those that all Afflicted of the appropriate level may have access to -- not every Companion will be extremely proficient in every Capability, and not every Companion will be affected as badly, or in the same way, by a Difficulty.

Level 0 [0 Shards]

At Level 0, the Plant Affliction presents a nascent, unrefined bond with plant energy. While its power is limited and difficult to control, the connection hints at the extraordinary potential for growth and nurturing life.

Capabilities:

• Verdant Connection: The Companion can lightly influence nearby plant life, such as causing flowers to bloom briefly or coaxing small vines to grow. While the effects are temporary and subtle, they provide a glimpse of their potential power.
• Nature's Boon: The partner gains a minor but noticeable benefit in areas rich with plant life, such as slightly improved stamina, sharper senses, or heightened focus. These effects are most potent in lush environments.

Difficulties:

• Energy Drain: The Companion’s bond with plant energy is unstable, requiring constant exposure to sunlight or greenery to maintain balance. Prolonged separation leads to sluggishness or reduced physical resilience.
• Seasonal Weakness: Cold or barren environments significantly diminish their connection, making their abilities harder to activate and their vitality more fragile.
• Empathic Overload: The Companion is highly attuned to the vitality of plants. Areas of decay or lifelessness cause them emotional distress and can temporarily disrupt their focus or decision-making.

Quirks & Cosmetic Changes (optional):

• Subtle leaf-shaped patterns might grow and fade on their skin, fur, or scales, glowing faintly during moments of attunement to nature.
• Their eyes may reflect the vibrant green of healthy leaves, becoming more vivid when surrounded by thriving plant life.
• The Companion may emit a faint, calming aroma reminiscent of fresh rain or blooming flowers, noticeable when they feel connected to their surroundings.

Level I [50 Shards]

At Level I, the Plant Affliction begins to blossom, allowing the Companion to channel plant energy with greater stability. They exhibit an emerging control over their connection to nature, building upon their initial bond while offering new capabilities to support themselves and their partner.

Capabilities:

• Verdant Manipulation: The Companion can now actively manipulate small plants, such as causing vines to grow and shift direction, encouraging roots to break through barriers, or guiding flowers to bloom. These changes are temporary but functional, providing utility in exploration or combat.
• Photosynthetic Resilience: By basking in sunlight or remaining in close proximity to healthy plant life, the Companion can gradually recover stamina and minor injuries. This passive regeneration reflects their deepening connection to nature.
• Green Vitality: While near the Companion, the partner experiences accelerated recovery from minor injuries or exhaustion, drawing strength from the Companion’s growing vitality.
• Nature’s Insight: The partner gains an intuitive understanding of their environment when surrounded by plant life, such as sensing hidden paths, recognizing dangerous flora, or finding medicinal herbs with ease.

Difficulties:

• Seasonal Variability: While the Companion has gained more control, their connection to nature remains tied to environmental conditions. In barren or cold areas, their abilities are less potent, and their recovery slows significantly.
• Fragile Ecosystem Bond: Excessive use of their powers can strain the natural environment, causing nearby plant life to wither or weaken temporarily. This may lead to unintended consequences and require careful balance.

Quirks & Cosmetic Changes (optional):

• Their leaf-like markings now glow faintly in sunlight, creating a subtle bioluminescent effect during moments of heightened energy.
• A soft rustling sound may emanate from their movements, as if leaves were shifting or brushing against each other.
• The Companion’s scent deepens to include earthy undertones, reminiscent of freshly turned soil or the forest after rain.

Level II [150 Shards]

At Level II, the Companion’s connection to plant energy flourishes, allowing for more deliberate and impactful use of their abilities. Their bond with their partner grows deeper, offering enhanced synergy and resilience.

Capabilities:

• Flourishing Growth: The Companion can now rapidly grow medium-sized plants or enhance existing flora to create obstacles, concealment, or basic tools. This ability allows for greater adaptability in combat and exploration.
• Thorned Retaliation: The Companion gains the ability to imbue nearby plants with defensive properties, such as growing sharp thorns or toughened bark. These enhancements can deal minor damage to enemies or fortify allies in close range.
• Vital Bloom: The partner can now benefit from the Companion’s growing connection to nature, receiving brief bursts of vitality that heal minor injuries or restore stamina when in the presence of thriving plant life.
• Environmental Harmony: The partner develops a stronger awareness of the natural world, gaining the ability to sense environmental threats like poisonous plants, unstable terrain, or weather changes before they occur.

Difficulties:

• Overgrowth Risk: The Companion’s growing power may cause unintended overgrowth, such as vines spreading too far or roots damaging the environment. These effects can disrupt allies or create unintended hazards.
• Environmental Dependency: The Companion’s reliance on healthy plant life increases. In areas devoid of greenery or sunlight, their abilities are significantly weakened, and their stamina recovery is slower.

Quirks & Cosmetic Changes (optional):

• Their markings evolve into more intricate patterns, resembling vines or flowers, and glow softly when using their abilities.
• The Companion may occasionally shed tiny petals or leaves from their body, which dissolve into the air.
• Their voice develops a calming, melodic quality, reminiscent of a breeze through trees or a babbling brook.
• A faint aura of pollen-like motes surrounds the Companion when they channel plant energy, giving them an ethereal appearance.

Level III [250 Shards]

At Level III, the Companion’s mastery of plant energy expands significantly, allowing for more dynamic and impactful abilities. Their bond with their partner becomes more deeply rooted, enabling greater synergy and shared benefits. The Companion begins to exhibit nature’s strength and resilience while maintaining balance with its surroundings.

Capabilities:

• Overgrowth Surge: The Companion can rapidly grow dense vegetation, such as forming barriers of thick roots, sprawling vines to entangle enemies, or foliage for concealment. These creations are durable and can persist for a short duration.
• Healing Bloom: By channeling energy into a localized area, the Companion can cause plants to emit soothing, rejuvenating energy. Allies within range recover minor injuries and gain a temporary boost to their stamina.
• Shared Regeneration: The partner benefits from the Companion’s healing abilities, passively recovering minor wounds and fatigue faster when near vibrant plant life or during Overgrowth Surge.
• Guardian’s Resilience: The partner gains increased resistance to environmental effects, such as toxic flora, extreme weather, or hazardous terrain, reflecting the Companion’s ability to harmonize with nature.

Difficulties:

• Energy Imbalance: Overuse of the Companion’s abilities can drain the surrounding environment, temporarily leaving areas barren or depleted, which may disrupt ecosystems or draw unwanted attention.
• Environmental Overload: In areas with excessive or chaotic plant energy (e.g., magical forests or overgrown ruins), the Companion may struggle to control their abilities, leading to unintended and uncontrollable growth.

Quirks & Cosmetic Changes (optional):

• Their markings now shimmer with faint golden or silver highlights, resembling sunlight or moonlight glinting off dew-covered leaves.
• Vines or flowers may begin to sprout naturally from their body, weaving through fur, feathers, or scales, and changing subtly with their emotional state.
• A gentle, rhythmic rustling sound follows the Companion during Overgrowth Surge, akin to wind moving through dense foliage.
• When using Healing Bloom, the air around the Companion may fill with visible motes of light or shimmering pollen, creating an otherworldly and serene atmosphere.

Level IV [350 Shards]

At Level IV, the Companion's connection to plant energy reaches new heights of mastery, enabling powerful control and deep synergy with their environment and partner. Their abilities reflect the resilience and resourcefulness of nature, expanding their influence and utility in dramatic ways.

Capabilities:

• Verdant Sanctuary: The Companion can create a temporary zone of flourishing vegetation, providing allies within the area with accelerated healing, stamina recovery, and minor protection from physical and elemental attacks. This sanctuary remains active for a limited time and requires a stable environment to maintain.
• Rootbound Grasp: The Companion can summon thick roots to erupt from the ground and ensnare enemies, immobilizing or hindering their movement. These roots are resilient, requiring effort to break free, and can spread across multiple targets in close proximity.
• Symbiotic Vitality: The partner gains an amplified ability to draw on the Companion’s healing zone, experiencing faster regeneration and increased resistance to ailments, such as toxins or disease.
• Nature's Guidance: The partner develops an innate ability to navigate natural environments with ease, such as dense forests or tangled vines, and gains a heightened awareness of hidden paths or shortcuts.

Difficulties:

• Depletion Feedback: Prolonged use of Verdant Sanctuary can drain the Companion’s stamina significantly, leaving them vulnerable if overused or maintained in a hostile environment.
• Root Rebellion: If the Companion overextends their control with Rootbound Grasp, the roots may spread erratically, potentially damaging allies, structures, or unintended areas.
• Ecosystem Shock: The dramatic changes caused by their abilities can disrupt local ecosystems, attracting attention from hostile creatures or destabilizing fragile environments.

Quirks & Cosmetic Changes (optional):

• The Companion’s markings now glow more vividly, pulsating gently as if mirroring a heartbeat when using abilities.
• Blossoms or small plants may sprout briefly in their footsteps, fading moments after they move.
• When activating Verdant Sanctuary, a soft, radiant green aura surrounds the Companion, accompanied by the faint sound of rustling leaves and distant birdsong.
• The Companion’s scent becomes richer and more distinct, carrying tones of wildflowers, sap, or fresh greenery, varying with their emotional state.

Level V [450 Shards]

At Level V, the Companion ascends to a new level of mastery, merging their profound connection with plant energy and their bond with their partner into a unified force. Together, they harness nature’s resilience and power, wielding abilities that reflect the strength and harmony of the natural world. Their synergy reaches an unparalleled depth, showcasing their mutual growth.

Capabilities:

• Nature's Wrath: The Companion can summon a surge of nature’s fury, such as thorny brambles, massive roots, or entangling vines, which strike or ensnare multiple enemies within a large radius. This ability can be used offensively or to control the battlefield.
• Rejuvenating Canopy: The Companion can create a protective canopy of glowing leaves and vines that shields allies from harmful environmental effects and provides a steady, low-level healing aura. The canopy can persist for several minutes, acting as a bastion in challenging conditions.
• Shared Endurance: The partner gains increased stamina and resistance to exhaustion when near the Companion, allowing them to sustain physical or magical efforts for longer periods.
• Defensive Flourish: When under threat, the partner can channel a portion of the Companion’s energy, causing vines or roots to momentarily shield them from an attack, absorbing part of the impact and reflecting minor damage back to the attacker.

Difficulties:

• Vital Strain: The Companion’s advanced connection to nature creates a taxing feedback loop. Overuse of abilities like Nature's Wrath may drain their vitality, leading to temporary physical frailty or slower recovery.
• Unpredictable Wilds: At this level, the Companion’s abilities occasionally trigger spontaneous and uncontrollable flora reactions, such as brambles erupting in unintended directions or plants behaving aggressively toward friend and foe alike.
• Symbiotic Feedback: The deepened bond between the Companion and their partner means that if one becomes gravely injured or fatigued, the other will share a portion of that burden, potentially weakening their effectiveness in dire situations.

Quirks & Cosmetic Changes (optional):

• When Nature’s Wrath is activated, a faint green glow radiates from the Companion’s markings, and thorny vines or roots may spontaneously sprout from the ground around them.
• The Companion’s footsteps leave behind glowing imprints resembling small blooms or ferns that fade after a few moments.
• The scent of the Companion now shifts dynamically, reflecting the surrounding environment—fresh and earthy in forests, floral in meadows, or damp and mossy in wetlands.
• Rejuvenating Canopy manifests as a radiant dome of leaves and flowers, shimmering faintly with golden or silver light, creating an otherworldly, serene visual effect.

Level VI [550 Shards]

At Level VI, the Companion’s mastery over plant energy evolves into a near-divine connection with nature, allowing them to influence vast areas and foster life on an unprecedented scale. Their bond with their partner becomes inseparable, empowering both to thrive in even the harshest conditions. The Companion’s abilities now reflect nature’s duality—its ability to nurture and to dominate.

Capabilities:

• Verdant Genesis: The Companion can create vast fields of flourishing plant life, transforming barren or hostile environments into fertile grounds. This ability provides allies with improved stamina recovery, healing effects, and concealment within the created greenery.
• Nature’s Fury: The Companion unleashes a devastating surge of natural energy, causing nearby plants to lash out violently. Thorny vines, spiked roots, and toxic blooms target enemies, inflicting significant damage while disrupting their movements.
• Shared Resilience: The partner gains near-immunity to environmental hazards, such as extreme heat, cold, or toxic flora, while in close proximity to the Companion. This reflects the Companion’s ability to harmonize with nature and protect their bond.
• Symbiotic Shield: The partner can channel the Companion’s energy to create a protective barrier of living plants that absorbs and deflects incoming attacks. This shield grows stronger when surrounded by natural flora or thriving ecosystems.

Difficulties:

• Ecosystem Overload: Verdant Genesis, if overused, may destabilize the surrounding environment, leading to imbalances such as invasive plant growth or aggressive reactions from local fauna.
• Nature’s Wrath Recoil: The power of Nature’s Fury takes a toll on the Companion, leaving them temporarily weakened and unable to summon large-scale abilities until they recover.
• Symbiotic Strain: The partner’s dependence on the Companion’s energy at this stage means that prolonged separation or injury to one can severely hinder the other’s effectiveness.

Quirks & Cosmetic Changes (optional):

• The Companion’s markings glow with shifting colors, resembling the vibrant hues of blooming flowers or seasonal foliage.
• When using Verdant Genesis, the air fills with shimmering motes of pollen and the sound of distant, melodic birdsong.
• Leaves, vines, or flowers permanently adorn parts of the Companion’s body, growing more vibrant and intricate with emotional intensity.
• Their presence exudes an aura of vitality, causing nearby flora to bloom and thrive even in inhospitable conditions.

Level VII [650 Shards]

At Level VII, the Companion transcends into a commanding force of nature, seamlessly blending their own vitality with the power of the natural world. Their abilities expand to reshape their surroundings and influence their bond with their partner profoundly. A new familiar emerges, a physical manifestation of their connection to the plant realm, offering unparalleled support and synergy.

Capabilities:

• Verdant Familiar: The Companion creates a loyal familiar forged from plant energy. This familiar can take on a small, distinct form (e.g., a glowing fox, vine-covered bird, serpentine vine, or other creative shapes). It assists in combat by entangling foes, scouting the area, or providing minor healing to allies. The familiar is resilient but requires a constant energy link to the Companion, dissipating if the Companion becomes too fatigued.
• Floral Convergence: The Companion summons a wave of blossoming plants to rapidly cover a large area. These plants emit soothing energy, granting allies minor healing and increased stamina while hindering enemy movement through tangling vines and thorny obstacles.
• Eternal Bloom: The partner benefits from the Companion’s connection to the familiar, gaining increased stamina regeneration and improved resistance to ailments, such as poisons or curses, while the familiar is active.
• Harmonic Shield: The partner can call upon the Companion’s energy to summon a shield of flowering vines and leaves that temporarily absorbs damage. This shield strengthens in lush environments and may release healing pollen upon breaking.

Difficulties:

• Familiar Dependency: The familiar requires a continuous energy supply from the Companion. If it is damaged or destroyed, the Companion may experience temporary disorientation or a sudden drop in stamina.
• Chaotic Growth: Floral Convergence can sometimes oversaturate an area, causing uncontrolled growth that might impede allies or destabilize the environment.
• Energy Fragility: Prolonged use of abilities, especially in barren or harsh conditions, drains the Companion’s vitality rapidly, leaving them vulnerable if not properly managed.

Quirks & Cosmetic Changes (optional):

• The familiar’s form is adorned with glowing vines, blooming flowers, or soft light patterns that shift and pulse with the Companion’s emotions or the surrounding environment.
• When the Companion uses Floral Convergence, faint, melodic chimes or whispers of wind through leaves can be heard, creating an otherworldly ambiance.
• Vines and flowers on the Companion’s body now move subtly, shifting as if alive or reacting to their emotions.
• Their shadow appears intertwined with growing vines or flickering leaves, creating the illusion of nature extending beyond their physical form.
• When the familiar is active, faint patterns resembling veins or roots may glow softly on the ground surrounding the Companion, creating the impression of a living network connected to the earth itself.

Level VIII [750+ Shards]

At Level VIII, Companions ascend to their ultimate specialization, choosing one path that reflects their mastery over plant energy and their role in the natural world. These specializations define their destiny, unlocking unique powers and shaping their connection to nature in profound and distinctive ways.

• Verdant Guardian: These Companions serve as protectors of the natural world, creating safe havens where life can thrive. Their connection to plant energy allows them to establish powerful, sanctuary-like environments.
  • Example Powers: Create protective groves, summon barriers of living plants, and restore barren landscapes to vitality.
• Bloomkeeper Artisan: Masters of living art, these Companions create breathtaking sculptures, pathways, and tapestries from flora. Their creations aren’t just decorative; they exude magical properties that inspire, heal, or defend.
  • Example Powers: Weave living walls of flowers, craft protective arboreal structures, and create art that boosts morale or heals allies.
• Sylvan Sentinel: These Companions become formidable defenders of forests and other natural landscapes. They harness the strength of ancient trees to shield their allies and crush their enemies.
  • Example Powers: Summon massive roots for offense or defense, strengthen allies with arboreal power, and fortify terrain with ancient tree energy.
• Floral Emissary: Operating as envoys between nature and civilization, these Companions can communicate with plants and use them to carry messages, spread warnings, or deliver aid across vast distances.
  • Example Powers: Relay messages through plants, summon assistance from distant flora, and establish connections with plant spirits.
• Mycelium Master: Specializing in the enigmatic world of fungi, these Companions can wield spores and mycelial networks for diverse effects, from breaking down obstacles to creating hallucinatory illusions.
  • Example Powers: Spread fungal growths that confuse or harm foes, decompose obstacles, and craft medicinal or toxic fungal elixirs.
• Eternal Arbiter: These Companions channel the wisdom of ancient forests, granting them unparalleled foresight and the ability to guide their allies through complex decisions.
  • Example Powers: Glimpse future events through the life cycles of plants, share visions of danger, and unlock hidden knowledge from the natural world.
• Thornecaller: A master of aggressive plant manipulation, these Companions summon deadly thorns, spiked vines, and other natural weaponry to dominate the battlefield.
  • Example Powers: Create vine whips, thorny shields, and explosive bramble bursts to damage enemies or protect allies.
• Groveweaver Shaman: These Companions forge spiritual bonds with plants, awakening their latent spirits to aid in battle, healing, or guidance.
  • Example Powers: Summon plant spirits to heal, channel ancient knowledge from tree guardians, and amplify the life force of allies.
• Luminous Bloomwright: Focusing on the beauty and energy of flowers, these Companions create radiant, glowing blooms that provide healing, inspiration, and powerful light-based effects.
  • Example Powers: Grow flowers that radiate healing energy, illuminate dark areas, or blind enemies with bursts of radiant light.
• Verdant Conductor: These Companions orchestrate massive, symphonic displays of plant growth and energy, blending light, sound, and flora to inspire awe, heal allies, or deter enemies.
  • Example Powers: Craft mesmerizing light shows with bioluminescent plants, create calming or invigorating effects for allies, and disorient foes with chaotic displays of natural power.